Range-finding arrangement.



C. J. HARTER.

RANGE FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. I916.

1,242,686. Patented 001;. 9,1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. J. HARTER.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

10 SHEETSSHEET 2.

5] nuewfoz RANGE FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. to. 19m. 1,242,686.

n m m u r T m l L.

C. J. HARTER.

RANGE FINDIN G ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 1 58.10. 1916.

1,242,686. A Patented 00th 9,1917

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

C. J. HABTER.

RANGE FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I0. 1916. 1,242,686. Patented 001;. 9,1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PM i a I C. J. HARTER.

RANGE FlNDlNG ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION mzo FEB. 10. 1915.

1,242,686. Patented 001;. 9,1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W vwamfoz %1 1m to e C. .I. HARTER.

RANGE FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

10 SHEETS-$HEET 6- KZZ/a,

C. J. HARTER.

RANGE FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-10.1916

1,242,686. Patented 001;. 9,1917.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7- Fifi- C. J. HARTER.

RANGE FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

l0 SHEETSSHEET 9.

W ygdwventoz %1) 1m am I i fi cu A A HM l v? a m wm n Z Q Lwv \Qv E C. J. HARTER.

RANGE FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10 I916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

as, 244, a M s A uivirEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE J'QH ARTER OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I WILLIAM WEBB, OF BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

RANGE-FINDING ARRANGEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0013.9, 1917.

Application filed February 10, 1916., Serial No. 77,420.

To all whom it may concern: j,

Be it known that I, CLARENCE J. HARTER, a citizen of the United. States of America, and a resident of Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Range-Finding Arrangements, of which the following is a description,

This. invention relates to range finding arrangements for ordnance of all types and sizes. j j i p More specifically; the invention is directed to the arrangement for finding the range for Ordnance of large andsmall caliber,.including rifles, whereby greater accuracy and precision of hitting the object aimed .at and rapidity in locating the range is attained.

A particularly useful form of my invention comprises a front sight preferably-of closed perimeter such as a circular sight, which is fixed in position near the front of therifle or other ordnance and a rear sight, also. preferably closed in perimeter but of variable extent of opening and positioned adjacent the. barrel of the rifle or adjacent the rear end of the larger ordnance. 1 A simple form of such peep sight of variable extent of opening is, composed of two conjugate sight plates having co-adjacentV openings but oppositely juxtaposed to form a unitary peep opening whereby upon ad ust- ,ment of asuitableadjusting element said plates may at will approach or recede from each other to thereby respectively decrease or. increase the extent of. opening of. the variable sight. A

I A principle of my impr- "cu range finder involves the determination of the elevation of the rifle or other ordnance, 6., the distance of the object of known vertical height object aimed at,,and mechanism coacting with the adjusting element of the variable opening sight to effect 'the proper elevation ofthe rifle or. other ordnance. In such determination the velocity, of the bullet at a definite stage is predetermined and the visual angles of an object of known dimension at different definite distances from the observer are also predetermined.

Applying an embodiment of the invention on a rifle to a concrete illustration, we shall assume the object aimed at to be a person, i. .e., an object of predetermined average height, and that the bullet of the cartridge emerges from the end of the barrel at a predetermined velocity; these factors are taken into account in constructing the setting portion, usually a cam, of the mechanism. The operator or observer then adjusts the variable opening sight to circumscribe the upper and lower perimeter of said variable sight as accurately as possible tangentially about the upper and lower edges of the visualimage of the object. In general, upon making such adjustment, increasing the extent of opening of the variable sight lowers. the elevation of the rifle and decreasing the extent of opening raises the elevation of the rifle, thereby respectively determining the trajectory traversed by the bullet from the end of the barrel to the center of object aimed at. To attain the desired object of the invention by use of acam, such cam is constructed by taking the above stated known quantities in account and arranging suitable cooperating means. such as rollers adapted to engage said cam and controlling the position of the respective rear sight plates to another and with respect to the center line of the bore of the rifle, so that upon the operator visually alining the center of the rear variable opening sight, the centerv of the front sight and the center of the object aimed at in the same line, the center line of the barrel will be properly positioned with respect to the trajectory.

Similarly, for use on heavy ordnance, the observer visually circumscribes as accurately as possible, the adjustable plates of the variable opening rear sight by means of an elevating hand wheel, or similar approved elevation determining device, thereby controlling the vertical position of the center of said variable opening with respect to the center line of the bore of the ordnance by means of .a similar cam constructed toeflect the proper elevation for an object of known vertical height, the visual angle of said object at a known distance from the observer,

the known distance of the front sight from the rear sight, the predetermined velocity of/the projectile, and other known data as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Such relatively movable sight plates may be adjusted with respect to one another and nite dimension preferably by means of a set-.

ting device having an indicator showing the respective dimensions of the range of variable targets, or a second or other cam surfaces may be-employed in con unction with or substitution for one another. Such indieating variable target is of use when the object aimed at is a person kneeling or lying prostrate on the ground, 'etc.; or for use in aiming at an object of unknown character but apparently having the same height as a fence or other object of known height.

The present invention is well adapted to modern rifles by suitably constructing the variable opening sight and its cooperating mechanism onto the sight leaf of the rear sight, and the form of my invention described hereinafter more particularly is a form which is well adapted to be employed in connection with the sight of the present United States standard Springfield rifle (model 1903).

It is desirable to provide my range finding arrangement with a sighting tube having a sighting opening closely adjacent to the eye of the "marksman and to arrange such sighting tube relatively to the frontand rear sights to attain alinement for the various ad ustments of the variable rear sight and thereby decrease to a minimumthe time required for alining the sight openings with the object aimed at.

It is also advantageousto employ lenses or other optically magnifying arrangements to enlarge the image of the object aimed at as virtually seen in the plane of the variable sight. For this purpose, it is of advantage to employ a lens having a circle or other figure of closed perimeter placed on or within said lens to serve as the front sight opening. My invention lends itself to conjoint use with the known approved correcting arrangements for windage, and drift of bullet.

Other features and objects of my invention will be more fully understood from the 7 following description and the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a rifle provided with a sight arrangement embodyingmy invention and indicates the trajectory traversed by the bullet from the muzzle of the barrel of the rifle to the center of the ob'eet aimed at;

ig. 2 is a simplified side elevational view of a rifle provi ded with a form of my invention comprising a front sight formed of a lens and a sighting tube to facilitate proper positioning of the eye of the marksman;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are companion figures showing in side elevation respectively the stock, breech and front barrel portien of a United States Springfield model rifle equipped with asight arrangement embodymg my invention;

Fi 6 is a detail end elevation of the sighting leaf shown in Fig, 3;

Figs. 7 and'S are companion figures showing in side elevation respectively the breech and front barrel portion of the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but in depressed position, with certain portions removed;

Figs. 9 and 10 are companion figures showing intop plan view respectively the breechand front barrel portion of the parts shown in Figs. 4 and 5 Fig. 11 is a rear end elevation -of the breech of the aforesaid rifle and the variable sight plates, adjusting nut and regulatlng cam of the variable opening rear sight;

Fig. 12 is a rear end view,-on a greatly enlarged scale, of the principal elements of the variable opening rear sight;

Fig. 13 is'a section on the irregular line 1313 of Fig. 12 as viewed in the direction of the indicating arrows;

Fig. 14 is a section on the line 1414 of Fig. 12" as viewed in the direction of the indicating arrows Fig. 15 is the section'on of Fig. 12 as viewed in the direction of the indicating arrows;

Fig. 16 is the sectional View on the'section line 1616 of Fig. 12 as viewed in the direction of the indicating arrows; v

Fig. 17 "s the sectional view on the line 1717 of Fig. 12, as viewed in the direction of the indicating arrows; 1

Fig. 18 is a detail front end elevation of the barrel and front sight;

Fig. 19 is ,a detail side elevation of a modified form of sighting tube and carriage therefor;

' Fig. 20 is a detail front elevation of the variable opening rear sight; and

Figs. 21 and 22 are respectively rear end andside elevations of a form of my invention as applied to heavy ordnance.

Referring to Fig. 1, the front sight 1 positioned adjacent the front end of the barrel 2, of rifle 3, is indicated as an approved front sight of circular opening. The rear sight 4 comprises the upper plate 5, and lower plate 6, having conjugate openings to the line 15-15 'is positioned at 10, and observes the object 11 of'known height through the center of rear. sight 7 and front sight 1, along the line 12, the center line 9 of the bore of the barrel, 2 of the rifle will be properly elevated by the marksman to determine the path of the trajectory 13 traversed by, the bullet discharged at a known velocity and passing through the vertical center of the object 11 aimed at. .The upper visual line 14 hereinafter, sue

passes from the eye of the marksman positioned at 10 tangentially with respect to the extreme uppermost point of the perimeter of thesight opening 7 through the extreme uppermost point 15 of the object 11; similarly, the visual sight line 16 passes from the eye of the marksman positioned at 10 through the extreme lowermost point of the perimeter of sight opening 7 and through the extreme lowermost point 17 of the object aimed at. Thus having the height of the object, thevelocity of the bullet, the distance of the front si ht from the rear sights and the distanceo the eye from each said sight as known quantities, the unknbwn quantity, to wit, the distance of the object aimed at from the marksman, z. 6., the trajectory of the bullet, will be determiged by proper coordination of the mechanism of the variable opening rear sight determining the vertical distance of the center of the variable sight from the center line 9 of the bore of the rifle, and thereby determining the proper elevation of the rifle. As explained generally above and as more fully set forth elevation of the rifle may be controlled by means of a pro erly calculated cam surface or surfaces etermining the position of the center ofthe rear opening above the center line of the barrel.

It will be noted that the present invention vwhen used with absolute precision affords a range finder designed to penetrate the center of the object aimed at. By means of the notches forming the conjugate peep opening 'of variable extent, and upon the marksman accurately circumscribing the visual image of the object aimed at both vertically and horizontally tangentially within the perimeter of the variable opening, the range will be ascertained both for the vertical center as well as the horizontal center of the object aimed at. Accordingly errors in accuracy in sighting will be reduced and thereby secure greater precision in sighting and improved convenience in sighting the object aimed at.

Referring to. Fig. 2, the rifle 20 isindiing lens 29 acting in conjunction with the front sight lens 22 in telescope relation to magnify the visual image of the object aimed at in the plane of the variable sight. Such sighting tube 27 is shownsupported by the carriage formed by the arm 30, fixedly carried by the lever 31 fulcrumed at 32 to the leaf 25, and having its front end pivotally mounted at the point 33 approximately in the plane of the front sight 21.' By such arrangement, for all adjustments of the variable sight, the sighting tube 27 will at all times be in alinement with the center of the variable rear sight opening in leaf 25, and the center of the front sight opening 22. Such sighting tube arrangement aids the marksman in locating the front and rear sights in relation to the object aimed at, and also provides simple mounting means for telescopic or similar optically magnifying means whenever desired.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the stock-40 of the rifle is shown provided with the plate 41 having the sighting slot 42, said plate being pivoted by means of the stud 43 within the recess 44 onthe top of the stock 40, said plate being resiliently held in vertical position by means of the platespring 45, adapted to engage the squared end 46 of plate 41. The spring 45 serves also to hold the sighting plate 41 in position within the recess 44, when folded down out of use. The sighting slot 42 may beelongated as indicated by Fig. 6. Such sighting plate 41 is employed to aid the marksman in ascertaining the vertical plane passing through the centers of the front and rearsights, and to locate the proper position of the eyefor accurate sighting.

Referring to Fig. 4, the sighting tube 47 is shown as an alternative to the sighting plate 41 of Fig. '3. Said sightingtube 47 is provided with the sighting end piece 48 of rubber or other iresilient material, and is carried by the bracket 49, depending in fixed relation to the balancing lever 50 pivoted at 51 onto the plate 52, slidably mounted on the sight plate 53. Said lever 50 as shown in Fig. 4, continues longitudinally of the barrel 55 of the rifle and may be bent downwardly to be brought at the side of the barrel 56, to be out of the way. The front end 56 is pivoted onto the casing 57 of the front sight 58, shown as a bead having a circular opening (see also Fig. 10).

The specific pivotal means 51 is indicated as .formed of the pin 51 having the milled head 60, said pin 51 projecting through the slot 61 in the lever 50 and tapped within the recess 62in the slidable plate 52 (see also Fig. 11). Such arrangement affords convenience in allowing the sight leaf 53 carrying the variable opening to be folded down onto the top of the breech 64' of the rifle, as indicated in Fig. 7, during which movement the pin 51 moves along the slot 61, and thesight leaf may be locked in its folded position by tightening the head 60 against the face of lever 50. Said lever 50, as shown in Fig. 4, continues longitudinally of the barrel 55 of the rifle and may be bent forwardly to be brought at the side of the barrel 55, to be out of the way. The front end 56 is pivoted onto the casing 57 of the front sight 58, shown as a bead having a circular opening (see also Fig. 10.)

The specific pivoted means 51 is indicated as formed of the pin 51 having the milled head 60, said pin 51 projecting'through the slot 61 in the lever 50 and tapped within the recess 62 in the slidable plate 52 (see also Figs. 11 and 15). Such arrangement affords convenience in allowing the sight leaf 53 carrying the variable opening to be folded down onto the top of the breech 64 of the rifle, as indicated in Fig. 7, during which movement the ivot pin 51 rides along the slot 61 and the olding leaf 53 may be clamped in folded position by turning the head 60. 'The sighting tube 47 is advantageously carried as to permit the same to be removed from connection with the lever 50, whereupon the sighting tube 47 may be placed in the pocket of the marksman or other place for safe keeping. To this end the arm 49 is held onto the rear end of lever 50 (see Figs. 9 and 4) by means-of the oppositely disposed curved fingers 65 to prevent vertical displacement and similar but somewhat larger fingers 66 to prevent lateral displacement, said fingers 65, 66 being formed as projections of the plates 67, and locked by the spring 68 carrying the tapered pin 69 adapted to be seated within the opening 7 0 in lever 50. By springing the free end of spring 68, the pin 69 will be cleared of the opening 70 and allow the plate 67, and therewith the sighting tube 47, to be slipped off ofthe free end of lever 50. Then, upon depressing the sight leaf 53, the balancing lever 50 will be depressed at its free or rear end, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8.

It will be noted that the sighting tube is preferably carried by the bracket 49 through the intermediation of the hinge 71 (see Fig.

9), the hinged plates 72 and 73 being normally held in face to face contact by the retractile spring 74. Such arrangement enables the sighting tube to be swung laterally to permit the breech to be opened, as when loading the rifle.

The various parts of the variable 0 ening sight are shown more particularl in igs. 4 and 11 to 17 inclusive. The en arged rear elevation shown in Fig. 12 represents the leaf 53 of the ordinary peep sight employed asa general support for the variable sight mechanism carried by the slidable plate 52.

In this embodiment the milled finger nut is the manual means for adjusting the extent of'opening of the variable sight, and is shown fixed to stud 81 j ournaled in an opening in plate 59 which is fixed to plate 53, and fixed to spur gear 82, driving the train of three gears 83, 84 and 85, said gear 85 bein fixed to stud 86, fixed to actuating gear 8 meshing with the rack 88 fixed to the slidable plate 52. r

The variable opening sight is at"90 (see Figs. 11 and 12) and is formed by two coadjacent, V slots, one designated 91 at the upper extremity of lower plate 92 and the other designated 93 at the lower extremity of upper plate 94. Said lower plate 92 is provided with the stud95 which is received within the fork 96 of the bell crank 97 fulcrumed at 98 and carrying the roller 99 adapted to be brought into engagement with the cam surface 100 set by means more fully described hereinafter.

Similarly the upper slot plate 94 carries the stud 101 received within the fork 102 of hell crank 103 fulcrumed at 104, and carrying the roller 105 arranged in axial alinement with said roller 99 and adapted to be brought into engagement with said cam surface 100. The V slots 91, 93 and rollers 99, 105 are'shown in horizontal relation in Fig. 16. As also shown in Fig. 16, said cam 100 is'formed of two outer stop surfaces 106, 107, and two inner cam surfaces 108, 108,'integral with cam arm 109, said cam arm 109 being pivotally mounted on stud'110 within the frame 111 of U-shaped cross section.

For the purpose of illustrating a method 'the eye to the centerof the vertical opening 7 will be twelve inches. We will assume that the distance of the object 11 from the observer 2'. e. from the point 10 to be 100 yards and-that the object 11 is a man, z. e., atarget ofv average height, five feet, nine nches. U derthese conditions,to which is added the data of the velocity of the bullet, the cam.10 must be of such construction that upon accurately setting the uppermost and lowermost edges of the openin 7 respectively about the uppermost and owermost outlines of the visual image of the object 11, i. 0., tangent to the respective lines 14, 16, the vertical distance of the center of the opening 7 above the center line 9 of the barrel 2 of the rifle 3 will determine the proper trajectory 13 for the above named particular .circumstances. Now'assume the target 'to be chahged, but the distance of the target from the observer to remain the same as above. By similar computation, the similar sight lines 14, 16, will be ascertained and the center of the variable opening 7 determined with respect tothe center line 9, and accordingly the effective portion of the cam 100 under the above named conditions will be readily computed. Similar. determinations will be madefor targets of other desired heights.

, In like manner, the distance of the targets of desired variable heights from the observer is varied and the corresponding visual lines 14, 16, likewise derived and the vertical relation of the center ofthe opening 7 with respect to the center line 9 ascertained and thereby determine the respective effective surfaces of the cam 100.

It will be noted that the point 10 of locationof the eye, indicated in Fig. 1, is determined by the position of the sighting plate 41 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, and similarly determined bythe position of the sighting opening 28 in the embodiment illus trated in Figs. 2 and 4. i

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13 it will be seen that said cam lever 109 extends upwardly. within a suitable clearance slot in the elongated frame 111, until it'i's bent at 112 having the abutment113 adapted to be engaged by the spirally shaped cam 114 controlled b the milled head 115. --The indicator 116 is providedfor the head 115 with indications Man, f4 ft, 2 ft., etc., marked on the adjacent face of casing 111 to indicatethe particular vertical height of the object aimed at. The stud 118, extending axially from and fixed to said cam 114 may be provided with notches 119 adapted to receive the chisel point of the spring pressed stop 120 to insure absolute setting of the cam lever 109. upon approximate manual movement of the setting head 115 toward the desired particular indication. The spring pressed plunger 121 (Fig. 12) serves to maintain the abutment 113 in contact with the setting cam 114. Of course, other indications of predetermined dimensions of targets in addition to or in substitution of the aforesaid indications may beemployed.

Referring now to Figs. 12, 14 and 16, it will be noted that the upper plate 94 is for walls of the said constructional reasons seated in a depression within the upper body plate 122, which is in fixed relation to upper plate 94 by means of the stud 101 and by engagement of the outer' edges of plate 94 against the 122 depression in body plate The V slotted plates are preferably arranged to be normally moved toward one another and thereby normally tend to force the respective roller 99, 105 toward the cam surface 108, to insure control of the extent of the variable opening 90 by means of the cam. Such arrangement is afforded by the duplicate retractile springs 123, extending from the pins 124, fixed to upper body plate 122 and upper plate 94, to the pins 125, fixed to the lower plate 92. As represented in Fig. 16, the lower plate 92 at its lower and broader portion is guided in the V.

shaped ways 126 formed in said slidable plate. 52, and as indicated in Fig. 12, the upper portion of lower plate 92 embodying its V slot is narrower than its lower portion. Referring to Fig. 16 (see also Fig. 12) each pin 124, and similarly each pin 125, projects through a slot 126 in plate 52, to allow springs 123 to be positioned beyond plate 52. Also said lower plate 92 is thinner at its upper portion than at its lower, whereby the thin upper plate 94 is brought into immediate face to face engagement at their co-adjacent V slots to yield clear sighgiong through the variable peep opening The above described relations between the several parts of my invention efi'ect speedy and accurate sighting. To illustrate theoperation of the specific embodiment described, we will assume that the object aimed at is a man standing upright, in which case the indicator 115 is moved so that its pointer 116 indicates Man.

,Then the rifle is raised by the marksman to proper position, and the actual object sighted through therear peep sight 90 and the front sight, with or without the auxiliary sighting tube or other aiding appliances.

Upon turning the. finger wheel 80, the plate 52 will be accordingly slid relative to its supporting leaf 53, and the V notch plates 92, 94 will be controlled by the cam 100 to cause the center of the peep opening 90 to be raised or lowered relatively to the center line of the barrel so that when the marksman has accurately sighted the image of the object aimed at, i. 6., by circumscribing the extreme. uppermost and lowermost portions tangentially at the respective extreme uppermost and lowermost edges of the peep opening 90, the rifle will have-been 'ectory to encounter the middle of the obect aimed at. The particular curvature of .moved'. to the the cam 100 to efi'ect the desiredobject is readily ascertained by mathematical calculation.

Now' assuming the object aimed at to be four feet. inheight, the pointer 116 is now 4 ft. indication, and the cam lever 109 by action of the setting cam 114-will be oscillated to cause the-effective canI- surface 100 to be displaced from its previous position to a new position torefiect;

, proper positioning of the aperture plates .92, 94 corresponding to the target of four feet height. Similarly, the setting device and 'peepadjustment will be regulated for targets of two feet height, and for targets 1 *of other vertical dimensions for which proaffording proper positioning of the peep vision may be made. V

Whereas I have illustrated a umtary cam opening relatively to the bore of the rifie, it will be apparant that individual cam sur-. faces for the respective target heights may be used, and suitablemechanism employed in. cooperation with the setting device to project the corresponding particular cam surface to be engaged by the rollers of the aperture plates and'thereby control the elevation of the rifle, as will be understood from the herein-above described data.

In the specific form of my invention 1 shown by the drawings, I have particularly adapted the embodiment. to the present sight of the -United States Springfield (model 1903) rifle and employed the sup porting leaf (designated 53) of the said sight also as the supporting leaf'of my present invention; In such improvement, I have preserved the drift adjustment element 130 controlled by the windage screw for rectifying the position of the variable opening 90 laterally with respect to the vertical plane passing through the center line of the' bore, as will be clear from Figs. 11, 12

and 17, the last named figure indicating the construction of the ways 131 in leaf 53 to effect the desired lateral adjustment.

The detail view shown in Fig. 18, a front end view, shows a desirable front pivoting means for the balancing lever 50. The detail view .19, shows a modification of the sighting tube, in that the tube 132 is short to avoid hingin V as is necessary in the longer sighting tube 4 (see Figs. 4 and 20).

In ordnance of large caliber, including machine guns, and usually employing a handorpower wheel to elevate the ordnance, my invention is applicable thereto, as by gearing the mechanism controlling the plate corresponding to said plate 52, to the" said. elevating mechanism of the ordnance and properly computing the effective surface of the cam for the desired target heights, velocity of projectile, etc, as will be understood.

A form of my inVenti QIr'asappIied to large'ordnance is indicated 1n Figs. 21 and 22. The cannon .150 is shown journaled within the standards 151, 151, mounted on thebase' 152. The wheel 153, operated-by hand or power, controls the elevation of the cannon.

.At either side of either standard 151 is arranged the toothed segment 154 fixed as by .set screws. 155 to such standard 151, and the gear wheel 156, meshing with the teeth of segment 154, is fixed to the shaft 157 having abearing at, 158. The gear 159 fixed o shaft 157 and disposed within the rear sight-.160, corresponds to the said gear 82 of the hereinabove described embodiment.

Said gear 159 controls thepositions of the upper and'lower aperture plates of the rear sight 160 relative to one another and to the 1 center line'of the bore ofthe cannon, similarly as hereinabove described. The front sight 161- is shown fixed to the cannon 150 adjacent'its front end. a

The setting indicator 162 willbe provided with indications of heights of variable targets as'will be understood, and the cam 163 will be calculated from the redetermined quantities applicable under the conditions of use, i. e., velocity of projectile at discharge from muzzle, theparticuIar height of object aimed at, the distance between the front and rear sights,-the visual angle under condition of visually circumscribing'the uppermost and lowermost edges of variable opening respectively about uppermost and 'lowermost'points of target, etc.

The slotted-sighting plate 164 is provided to facilitate locating the common plane of the front and rear sights and determine the at its horizontal edge by reference to specific forms thereof, it.

will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made mg from my invention.

I c1a1m:

without depart- 1. The combination with an ordnance, of v a range finder comprising a sight, a peep sight disposed at a predetermined distance Trom'said first named sight, means for varying'the extent of opening of said peep sight, eye locating means disposed in a fixed plane relation to the plane of said peep sight, and means coacting with said varying means for controlling the elevation of the ordnance.

2. The combination with an ordnance, of

a range finder comprising a sight disposed forwardly ofthe ordnance, a peep sight dismeans for controlling the elevation of the ordnance.

3. Thecombination with an ordnance, of a range finder comprising a sight, a peep sight disposed a fixed distance from said first named sight, sighting means having an eye locating device in a fixed plane relation to the plane of said peep sight, means for varying the extent of opening of said peep sight; means coacting with said vary ing means for controlling the elevation of the ordnance, and means supporting said sighting device to effect visual alinement With said first named sight and said peep sight throughout the range of elevation of the ordnance. i i

'4. The combination with an ordnance, of a range finder, comprising a front sight, a rearpeep sight, both saidsights being in fixed relation to the ordnance, means for varying the extent of vertical opening of said rear sight, eye locating means in fixed vertical relation to the planes of said front sightand said rear peep sight, and means coaeting With'said varying means forcontrolling the elevationof the ordnance.-

5. The combination Withan ordnance of a range finder, comprising a front sight,a

rear peep sight, means for varying the extent of vertical opening of said rear sight, eye locating means in fixed relation to the planes ofsaidv front sight and said rear-peep sight, and means .coacting with said varying means for controlling the elevation of the ordnance.

6. The combination with an ordnance, of a range finder, comprising a front sight, a rear peep sight, means for varying theextent of vertical and horizontal opening of said rearpeep sight, eye locating means dis? posed in a fixed vertical relationto said front sight and said rear peep sight, and means coacting With said varying means for controlling the elevation of the ordnance.

7. The combination with an ordnance, of a range finder, comprising a frontsight, a

rear peep sight, both said sights being in fixed relation to, the ordnance, means ifor varying the extent of vertical and horizontal opening of said rear sight, and meanscoacting With said varying means for controling the elevation of the ordnance.

8. The combination with an ordnance, of a range finder, comprising a peep sight, means forvarying the extent of opening of said peep sight and means coacting with said varying means for controlling the elevation of the ordnance.

9. The combination'with an ordnance, of

a range finder, comprising relatively movable plates, a peep sight formed by co-adjacent notches in said relatively movable plates and means constructed in predetermined relation to the bore of the ordnance for controlling the center of the sight relatively to thecenter line of said bore.

10. The combination with an ordnance, of a range finder, comprising relatively movableplates, a peep sight formed by co-adjacent notches in said relatively movable plates and means constructed in predetermined relation to the bore of the ordnance for controlling the center of the 1 sight relatively to the center line of said bore, said means comprising a cam.

11. The combination with an'ordnance, of a rangefinder, comprising relatively movable plates,a peep sight formed by co-adjacent notches in said relatively movable plates and means constructed in predetermined relation to the bore of the ordnance for controlling the center of the sight relatively to the center line of said bore, said means compr sing a cam, and means adjusted by the he ght of the object aimed at for setting sald cam.

12. The combinationwith an ordnance, of a range finder, comprising relatively movable plates, a peep sight formed by co-adjacent openings in said relatively movable plates,a supportfor saidplates, a cam controlling the relative positions of said plates, a manually'operated setting device for said cam and manually operated means for further controlling said cam.

13. A range finder for ordnance, comprising relatively movable plates, a peep sight formed by co-adjacent openings in said relatively movable plates, a support for said plates, a cam controlling the relative positions of said plates, and manually operated meansfor adjusting said cam for atarget of predetermined dimension and manually operated meansfor further adjusting said cam. v i a Y 14. A range finder for ordnance, comprising relatively movable plates, a peep sight formed by co-adjacent openings in said relatively movable plates, a support having a guide-way for guiding the vertical movement of said platesya eam controlling the relative position ofsaid plates and means for adjusting said cam for a target of definite dimension and manually operated means for further adjusting said cam.

15. A range finder for ordnance, comprising relatively movableplates each having an opening arranged to jointly form a peep sight, a support having guide-Ways for said plates, a cam controllin the movement of said platesiin said gui e-way, means for adjusting said support vertically and means for setting said-cam."

16. A range finder for ordnance. comprising a leaf, means for hinging said leaf on the ordnance, a support carried by sa1d leaf,

."means for adjusting the vertical position of said support on said leaf, vertically arranged plates in said support having co-adjacent' openings forming a unitary peep opening, bell cranks respectively connected to said T plates, a roller carried respectively by said bell cranks, a cam adapted to be engaged" by said rollers, a setting};l device responsive to variable vertical heig t controlling said cam and resilient means normally tending to cause said plates to approach one another.

17. A range finder for ordnance comprising a sight having a movable opening and an element (provided with a sighting opening dispose to the rear of said sight and meansfor mounting said element in a plane relatedat a predetermined distance from the plane of said sight.

18. .A range finderfor ordnance comprising a sight having a movable opening, =an element provided with a sightlng opening,

means for mounting said element to move in a substantially fixedplane, means for adjusting the position of the opening of sa1d sight and means controlled by said adjusting means for maintainingthe sighting opening of said element in alinement with the open.- mg of said sight.

19. A range finder for ordnance comprising a sight having a fixed opening, a sight having a movable opening, means for adjusting the position of sa1d movable open ing, an element provided with a sighting opening disposed at a substantially constant distance from the plane of said movable opening sight and means for maintaining the sighting openin of said elementin alinement with said ed opening and said movable opening.

20. A range finder for ordnance, comprising a sight having a fixed opening, a support spaced from said fixed sight, means carried by said support provided with a variable' sight opening, meansyfor adjusting said variable sight opening, a sighting tube having eye locating means disposed a substantially constant distance from the plane of said variable sight opening, and means controlled by adjusting means for maintaining said sighting tube in alinement with said variable opening and said fixed open- A range finder for ordnance comprisa sight having a fixed opening, a support spaced from said fixed sight, means carriedby saidsupport provided with a variable 1 sight opening disposed at a substantially constant distance from the plane of said variable sight opening,"means for adjusting said variable sight opening, a sighting tube, a magnifying means in optical relation with said eye locating means and means controlled by adjusting means for maintaining said. sighting tube in alinement with said variable opening and said fixed opening.

22. A range finder for ordnance comprising a sight having a movable opening, said sight including a support, two plates in said support and having co-adjacent openings,

trolling the relative positions of said plates and pivotal supporting means for said cam. '25. A range finder for ordnance compris ing a sighthaving a movable opening including plates having co-adjacent openings form1ng the sight opening, a cam for concluding two plates having co-adjacent openings forming said movable opening, a support for said plates, guides on said support for sa1d plates, a cam and means controlled by said cam for controlling the relative posiv tions of said plates.

26. A range'finder' for ordnance comprising a sight having a movable opening including two plates having co-adj acent open: ings formingsaid movable opening, a support fonsaid plates, guides on said support for saidplates, a cam and means controlled by said cam for controlling the relative positions of said plates, i

27. A range finder for ordnance comprising a sight having a movable opening including two plates having co-adjacent openings forming said movable opening, a support for 'said plates, guides on said support for said plates, a cam, pivotal supporting means for said cam and means controlled by said cam for controlling the relative positions of said plates. 28. A range finder for ordnance comprismg a sight having a movable, opening including two plates having co-adjacent openings forming said movable openings, a support for said plates, guides on sa1d support for said plates, a cam, rollers for said cam and means controlled by said cam for controlling the relative positions of said plates. 29. A range finder for ordnance comprising a sight having a variable opening including plates having co-adjacent openings forming said ,variable' opening, a vertical standard, a support, means controlling the position of said support on said standard.

guides on said support for guiding said plates, and a cam controlling the position of said plates relative to said support.

30. A range finder for ordnance comprising a sight having a variable opening including plates having co-adjacent openings forming said variable opening, a vertical standard, a support, gearing connecting said support with said standard, a cam and means controlled by said cam for controlling the relative position of said plates with respect to said support.

31. A range finder for ordnance compris- 1 ing a sight having a ari'able" opening including plates having co-adjacent openings forming said variable opening, a vertical standard, a support, gearing connecting said support wlth sald standard, a cam, pivotal supporting means for said cam and means controlled by said cam for controlling the relative position of said plates with respect to said support.

32. The combination with an ordnance, of a front sight, 2. rear sight, means for mounting onto said ordnance said front sight and said rear sight in substantially constant re- CLARENCE J. HARTER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. EGAN, RAYMOND H. FETI'E. 

